Big launch for Barb Nolan’s Anishinaabemowin videos for children
By Kirk Titmuss
GARDEN RIVER FIRST NATION – It was the event renowned Anishinaabemowin teacher Barb Nolan had been eagerly anticipating; the official launch of her very own YouTube channel videos for children, teaching them the traditional Anishinabek language in an animated, comical format.
About 50 people, including family, friends, and Anishinabek Nation and education officials were on-hand for the kick-off held on August 24, 2024, at the Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig (SKG), Centre of Excellence in Anishinaabe Education, in Garden River First Nation.
SKG Board Chair Dean Sayers applauded Nolan’s work and emphasized its importance to the future of the Anishinabek Nation.
“We have quite the legacy to protect. And that legacy really includes some core confines of nationhood, including our law, our land, our people’s way of life, but most importantly, our language.”
Anishinabek Nation Commissioner on Governance Patrick Madahbee also praised Nolan’s videos and how they will benefit coming generations.
“It’s a real testament to Barb and the people that have worked with her to put this together because our children, they’re the future. They’re going to be the ones who are going to be our leaders. As we gain traction bringing the language back, this is the kind of work that’s going to be needed to really help that along.”
Nolan, who also serves as the Anishinabek Nation Anishinaabemowin Commissioner, says the video idea came to her while working at the daycare in Garden River. She would play with the children, getting involved in all of their activities, but realized there were no opportunities for them to learn Anishinaabemowin.
“Sometimes, I would go away for two weeks at a time. There’s nothing for them there as far as language is concerned. So, the more I thought about that, the more I thought I have to produce videos in the language, comic videos so the kids will be interested to watch it.”
After a chance meeting with Esbikenh, a Walpole Island First Nation, Anishinaabemowin immersion teacher, and YouTube video producer, at a language conference in November 2023 in Bkejwanong, the two agreed to collaborate on creating instructional videos for children.
The former Junior Kindergarten teacher has been creating instructional immersion videos for kids for several years. His first came about after watching superhero videos on YouTube and realizing there were none made in Anishinaabemowin.
“So, I thought, why not make these videos and we’ll just have all the superheroes speak in Anishinaabemowin.”
Esbikenh was able to get a grant through the United Church’s Healing Fund to produce the videos featuring himself and others dressed as superheroes, speaking the traditional language.
In January, Esbikenh and Nolan spent several days in Bkejwanong recording 10 episodes of her teaching Anishinaabemowin. Both he and his brother, Giishkaandak, who provided technical support, recorded Nolan in front of a green screen. They created story boards then sent all their work to an animator. The result: colourful, cartoon-like, instructional videos aimed at children or anyone who wants to learn the language. The video introductions feature Nolan as a cartoon character.
The first 10 videos, which are now available on YouTube, were presented to the appreciative launch audience. Everyone laughed as Nolan described her costume changes for different characters in each episode.
“After a while, he (Esbikenh) throws me these clothes. ‘Put these on.’ One was for swimming in the water, underneath the water. And I said, ‘Oh my god, I can hardly fit this, you know!’ I was stretching that thing over my big belly and then he throws another thing at me. ‘I want you to go outside today.’ Now all of a sudden, I’m a policeman! It’s just things like that but it was so much fun working with him and I’m sure we’re going to have more fun as we work on more videos,” she chuckled.
Esbikenh says the additional videos on are the way.
“I already started working on the next 10 videos. I also got costumes for when Barb comes down (to Walpole Island First Nation). And after that, we’re going to do another 10.”
Esbikenh generously volunteered to do the initial 10 videos, and the Garden River Children Family Services will be funding the next 10 and have committed to work with Nolan and Esbikenh to produce even more. A special project has also been planned.
“What we’ll do is… get a full-length animated…cartoon. So that’s what’s to come,” explained Esbikenh.
Nolan says she’s committed to creating additional content that will teach Anishinaabe children and others the traditional language well into the future.
“I said as long as I am able, I will produce more videos and more videos.”